You Never Know What Each Day Brings

donnaMy last post was about my Mother’s Day Memories but if I’d have been able to ‘see’ what the next day was going to bring, I may well have waited to write it.

As some of you may know by now, I had rushed my wife to the ER early Monday morning with severe abdominal pain. The ER doc wasn’t all that positive about what her prognosis was as nothing was ‘presenting’ in any definite pattern. So, they had a CT Scan done which also left them puzzled. Nothing stood out. Overnight observation was ordered and she got to spend the night Monday with scheduled doses of pain and nausea meds.

Tuesday, another test was done (abdominal ultrasound) to see if anything was going to wave a flag and take credit for her illness. Nothing again. However, seeing as the majority of her illness was closely related to a case of appendicitis, that’s what the doc went with. They operated on her Tuesday afternoon and removed her appendix laparoscopically. After she was brought back to her room from recovery, she was a new person already.

She was resting comfortably last night and was about back to her usual self by this morning. We’re hoping to be able to bring her home today. She’ll rest better there with more familiar surroundings.

I want to thank those of you who offered prayers and well-wishes for her over the last few days. We really appreciated them. You’re all friends in the truest sense. I also want to thank my daughter for all her help. She was awesome. The whole family pitched in and for that, they have our thanks.

If I’ve learned one thing from this incident, it’s that you never know what each day brings. Things can go from right to oh-so-wrong in a flash. Without family and friends to help you get through it, it’s a tough thing to deal with. Thank you for being there for us.

Update:

We brought Donna home Wednesday afternoon. 3 1/2 hours AFTER the doctor wrote orders to release her. I guess hospitals have one up on restaurants when waiting on your check after the meal.

She’s coming along very well and is already off the pain meds. Hoping to have her strength up to go back to work on Monday. The surgery, and what preceded it, knocked her on her butt but she’s bouncing back just fine.

Again, thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes. They were very much appreciated.

Mother’s Day Memories

Most all of us have some fond memories of our Moms. They might consist of some special dish she cooked just for you. Maybe a way that she held you tight at night when you awoke from a nightmare, screaming that the ‘Boogie Man’ was gonna get you. Or possibly, the way she chewed you out for doing something you knew was wrong. Well, maybe that last one wasn’t one to be fond of but yes, we have some special memories of our Moms. Today brings them home for many of us. I’m no different than the rest of you except in one way.

It’s been 16 years since I lost my Mother to cancer….since I last heard her voice….since I last felt her touch. Yet my memory of her is still as strong now as it ever was. Memories are all I have of her now though I’d gladly trade each of them for her being here with me right now.

my motherIf she were here now, I’d introduce her to her granddaughter’s husband. Then I’d watch as she beamed with glee when her two great grandkids came up to hug her tight. We’d have lots to talk about, my Mother and I. I’d tell her how proud I was of my wife. Of her many accomplishments such as her earning her Master’s Degree and National Boards Certification. How proud I am of the way she cares for her students. How it tickles me to see our grandkids run up and hug her, calling out their name for her: Nana.

Mostly though, I’d tell her how much I missed her.

To be honest, I still feel her presence at times. I feel her hand on my arm, steadying my course. Guiding me to the right path. Helping me make the right decisions when needed. Just being there for me when I need her most. I feel good about that. Always have.

But all I have are memories. So I’ll hang on to those until we meet again.

Until then Mom, Happy Mother’s Day! I love you!

What Matters Most

Last night at work we were testing a rebuilt pump to make sure it would ‘hold’ when a line came off and sprayed my eyes with a chemical I’ll refer to just as ‘fountain solution’. My glasses took the brunt of the spray but enough of it got in my eyes to cause intense burning. Bad scenario, right? Hell yes!

what-ifIf it were not for my supervisor, who was in the room with me at the time, I may very well have wound up blinded by the chemical burns to my eyes. He immediately grabbed me and led me to a fresh water hose that he used to flush out my eyes. Obviously, it worked as I’m sitting here typing this story out now. Things could have turned out much worse though. I’m damn lucky.

My point here or goal, if you will, is not to curate a few “Oh no!” or “You poor guy” comments. Instead, I’m trying to tell you to stop taking things for granted because in a flash, it can all be taken away from you! Is it really THAT important to read an email while in traffic? Is it really THAT important to keep ignoring your wife and kids in favor of that report that MIGHT get you a promotion? What matters to you the most? Think about it.

Your sight, your health, everything and anything about you, can be gone in an instant. Nothing else really matters. Lose your sight and you never see your kids again. Lose your life and it’s all over. Pretty grim, isn’t it? What about losing someone else? Taking for granted that someone will always be in your life is like betting on a horse to solve your financial troubles. Not very smart, huh?

Take some time to mull it over. What really matters in your life? It’s amazingly short enough as it is already. Taking it for granted, or any part of it, is well, like cutting your nose off to spite your face.

Funny, what goes through your mind while flushing a chemical out of your eyes.

image credit: uncluttered white spaces

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